Pokémon: Wings of Beginnings
Chapter 24: On Memory Lane
August 19th, 2020
9:00 a.m.
Gardious' Office
A file was placed ontop of another closed file. It depicted another report of a successful mission to rid the Clay Tunnel of earthen-living Dulleds. Gardious opened another file, a report on reconnaissance to check around the surroundings of Mount Lanakila for suspicious activity... Checks tightened around Alola ever since the incident known as Rainbow Rocket occurred. People from other realities they would otherwise roughly have known or have the gist of their statuses in their own world came to step onto this land...
The unknown whereabouts of the main leader of Team Rocket who disappeared after losing to two trainers in the Viridian Gym in Kanto, it was later reformed by an Admin named Archer who wanted the disappeared Rocket Leader to return, but the broadcast made through the Goldenrod Radio Tower in Johto never made it to their Leader. It was said that he had a hideaway in the Tohjo Falls, but some unknown event sent him back into hiding again. Subsequently, Archer disbanded Team Rocket, without any sign of their Leader.
Team Magma and Team Aqua in Hoenn, they clashed against each other with their ideals to create land to enhance human civilization and expand the sea to give Pokémon more freedom respectively. However, Team Magma's leader, Maxie, created Project AZOTH, a design to bring the world back to its beginning. Thus, he sought the Red Orb that will awaken the legendary Pokémon of the land to undergo Primal Reversion and begin that start of an ideal world for humans. What he failed to realize, was that the Pokémon has to wipe all life off from the face of the land before it could recreate the world anew. Thankfully, a trainer who would eventually hold the title of Hoenn's Champion stopped Primal Groudon and return it back to slumber, where its threat to the world was put to an end.
But it was not the end for that yet. An Admin, Courtney, was distraught of her Leader and thus she resolved to revive Project AZOTH. The meteoroid that came to the world was a method to try and return the world back, but that failed as well. Team Magma, after various events, resolved to rework their humanitarian ambitions.
Team Galactic, here in the region where they live in... Their goal was the recreation of the universe, though most who worked, did not know about that. Gardious looked upwards, the site called Spear Pillar is where it began and ended. The leader, Cyrus, used red crystals harvested to manipulate the duo of legendary Pokémon who governs time and space from the trio of Pokémon known as the Lake Guardians who watched over from generations since the birth of Sinnoh. However, an inky figure emerges amidst the start, the Pokémon that comes from the shadows. It freed the Pokémon under control, and engulfed Cyrus with its overwhelming form. The commander who stayed back at their headquarters as mission control, Saturn, tried to contact his disappeared leader. After minutes of trying to get a signal, he received an order, a simple order.
"Do not look for me."
Ever since that point, Team Galactic has lessened their activities. Based on that, it appears that Team Galactic hasn't made any more moves to become a danger to the inhabitants. Just months later, one of the commanders, Charon, attempted to take control of a legendary Pokémon who resided inside Stark Mountain to destroy everything to create the new world. A member of the International Police, codenamed 'Looker', went to apprehend the remnants who continued on for this vision. But just as he, alongside another Trainer, quelled the rampage of the Pokémon, the remnants and Charon escaped and is on the run once again.
Team Plasma in the Unova region, they had a vision which they wanted to liberate Pokémon from humans by their ruler, N. But that was a guise... for one of the Seven Sages who is also N's adoptive father, Ghestis, wanted to take over Unova. Even N was left in the dark of that ambition. The trainer known as Hilbert who would become the second known Champion of Unova stopped Ghetsis, but he manages to escape from the authorities. Two years later, after the first Champion stepped down, and the second Champion has went on a long journey around regions, Team Plasma made their activities known once again. At least, Neo Team Plasma. Team Plasma had split into two factions; those who held onto their lord N's visions for Pokémon, and those who have went onto the ambition to rule Unova by freezing it.
The leader of Neo Team Plasma, Colress, is a researcher who wanted to study on how Pokémon draws out their full potential. He hadn't come to an answer right away, but is more impressed by the trainers who wanted to stop Neo Team Plasma's ambitions. Instead, he reveals that Ghetsis has returned and encourages them to stop him. Eventually, Ghetsis' ambitions were put to an end once again and he is taken into custody by the International Police. As for Neo Team Plasma led by Colress, they have stopped their ambitions with Colress disbanding it. He would eventually head towards the Alola region once news of interdimensional space spread wide.
Kalos had Team Flare, they announced a vision of a "beautiful world". Their leader, Lysandre, seeks to use the Overseer's power to power up the "ultimate weapon" to 'enforce' the "beautiful world" of his vision. He first recovered both the Life Pokémon and Destruction Pokémon, knowing that their presence will draw the Overseer out of hiding. Because of its focus to stop Life and Destruction, Lysandre captured the Overseer, revealing his true intentions to use it instead of the two that were to 'power' the weapon. But even with the Overseer, trainers, the Life and Destruction Pokémon, manages to avert the crisis, preventing activation of the ultimate weapon. While his ambitions refused to end, Lysandre begrudgingly announces the disbandment of Team Flare. The incident also has him bound to a wheelchair due to damage he suffered from his spinal cord.
Those ones from other worlds... part of that organization created by otherworlders... Gardious frowns at the ever-growing unsteadiness in the public world. It gave him concerns. What about them from other worlds? Are they treated the same?
He hears a call and turns to the communicator. "Aquarius?" He picks it up.
"What is it?" Came the old Starmie's voice.
"...How's progress of research from last night? Atad worked on decrypting it..."
"Don't know anything," he confessed. "It's foreign, who were those group who believed of this Knowledge of Beyond? One that defy logic to a reality."
"...Hm..." Gardious murmurs. "Even Atad's work isn't well enough..."
"It seems so," Pentaster agreed, still tired from the search for Luigi and reason for his betrayal.
Gardious breathes out and taps onto the intercom. "Veildert's condition hasn't changed?"
"No, nothing," Pentaster confirmed. "I don't know, it was so sudden."
Gardious looked silently, an illness that they have not even encountered once... Fran has no reason to even try to catch an illness... He was perfectly healthy before the mission so how did he get it? And the effects of the illness... it defied how the bodily system works... Fever at one instance, returning back to normal temperature at another instance...
"...Aquarius... is it possible that it isn't any illness? Or rather... beyond any infliction?"
Pentaster studies Gardious' words from the other side. "...I've been wondering about the murals the group when Cornus joined found may be related to it," Pentaster continued. "Others that I've found was that a mural depicting devotion wrapped by the Vermillion Bird."
"Devotion..." Gardious murmurs. "Veildert always had such a kind heart to help others..."
"I do not know why but what were those murals about?"
"..." Gardious held his head. These murals must have a meaning...
"I'll look over these murals again." Pentaster announced. "It has to have a reason why Veildert got sick. I'll do everything to save him."
"Aquarius..." Gardious closed his eyes. "...Thank you. Don't overwork yourself."
"...Remember that time... I don't want it to happen again." ...'Happen again'... It was a simple set of two words... But for some reason... there was a sort of unknown feeling.
"...Alright." Gardious hears the click at the end. The raven looked back at some of the files... He always felt that he had some prior experience with some of the newer ones, call it warrior's instinct. It just... happens very frequently. He didn't think he'd be so sharp in quicker moments. He took a look outside the window, where he could see the courtyard just as any room facing outside from the inner walls would.
"Iron! Check out my new Bullet Punch!" Blitz announces.
"Wait, no!"
"Raiii-yaaaah!"
Gardious silently watches Blitz's rapid-fire punching from a simple and quick executing technique. Iron had placed a barrier before this brother of his so that he wouldn't hurt anyone passing by. Thinking usually comes last for this brawn-full Shiny Metang... What a brainless oaf... a brainless oaf that can still fight given the orders around.
Some shots were heard. He looked over the firing range where Sunai and Swamp fired their firearms at the targets ahead. Sunai at a further position with his bayonet and Swamp nearer for his handgun had a lesser range than Sunai's.
"Hmm..." Swamp looked at his ammo first. He began with regular ammo, neutral and acted like most other normal bullets. Now he is trying out other forms of bullets stored with products.
"This one... when the shell breaks, it will release soundwaves..." He checks and fired off a few rounds at targets. Sure enough, when it impacted, the soundwaves spread from the shell's point, smashing relentlessly from their radius and watching the target crack and break at various spots.
"Hmm..." Swamp murmurs at the display of those rounds... those are incredible once they manage to dig themselves into surface... A power his species can do, seems it was enhanced to allow his bullets to do the same effect. "Sunai?" Swamp turns while he sees the marksman fire.
His accuracy and precision were better than his own. Then again, he was the best marksman of the team. Though he couldn't keep up with the power Swamp has. Sunai made up with the things he could do in the form of his bullets. One that fires a salvo of bullet shots from the air, another that bursts high-pressure water in a line onto a more horizontal-favored surface... a bullet that latches onto a surface and bursts at a chosen interval...
Swamp looked at some canisters... grenades. Some of these are man-made by himself once he got the minerals and their effects towards each other. He made them all by himself. Gardious nodded about this while he looked around their training. Been great so far, then he spotted Iggy punching a dummy.
He studied the youngest out of the ones he particularly trained himself. The past few days, Iggy's performance has been falling off from his regular standards... But after that mission, he seemed to be in a better mood. He watches the quicker movements and jabs before a punch onto the dummy's head. All of them were managed under his own strength. Not too weak, and not too forceful. Control and speed, those were needed to make a powerful fighter.
Iggy flicked his hands as he took a breather, glancing at them after he stopped. It was a good session, he felt his skills return. That was when he felt the winds blow from behind and a large shadow cast upon him. He turned to see the Commander descend toward him.
"Seems to me that you're faring well, Emberkin." Gardious greets.
"...I know what to do after I met that rebirthing flame." Iggy explained. "Reminding me of the flames of hope."
"Hope..." Gardious muses. "Your flame always burnt brighter any of the flame producers here. You even stood well under the freezing winds." His eyes looked upwards. "...I still remember that day. When you went out of the walls of your own accord."
"Oh, that?" Iggy wondered. "It is just what I do."
"Yes. You gave many a fright."
"...Oh," Iggy stuttered. He looked down in embarrassment.
"And I had to rescue you from one that was quite off from your skills." Gardious adds. "What was it called again... drilling horn, quadruped..."
"Spiral Drill, it is the Beta form," Iggy answered.
"Yes, you remember." Gardious nods. "Beta is already dangerous for you back then, it is manageable based on how you all are even when facing one Beta alone."
"But I wanted to help."
"You were too young back then, you hadn't undergone training."
"...Was I always that reckless?" Iggy wondered. "Besides, I disliked sitting when someone needed help." Gardious remembered about how Pentaster embraced him when he realized he was alright. He swore he saw the Starmie's core leaked tears, not the Hydro Pump.
"Yes, you were." Gardious nods. "It can be understood of your intentions to rescue, but you have to remind that you need to check on yourself too."
May 8th, 2010
12:21 p.m.
Orphanage
"Hmm... How's Granought doing ever since he arrived?" Gardious inquires from Pentaster while they walked and floated respectively.
"He's been avoiding us and scared to make friends." Pentaster explained. "Nothing we did to get close to him can change it. It was because of his history of child trafficking. He had been moved around 7 times."
"...I see..." Gardious frowned. "His scars remain heavy on him, even before since he learnt what the crystal he has been infused with has done as well. Now he is unable to recall either of the exact identities, but the actions harmed him..."
"The mind forgets, the body does not," Pentaster nodded. "But with no memory of why, I do not know how will it heal. He had been in some therapy sessions and while it improved his mental health, it still weighs on him, his body and soul were separated and left him empty."
"Let us hope he'll recover slowly for time is what he needs greatly." Gardious agrees. He looked at the clipboard. "I'll check on Nifil. Aquarius, could you check on Emberkin?"
Pentaster nods and he separates from Gardious to check on Iggy's room while the raven went to visit the quiet small pine tree. As he slows down right in front of the open door, he sees Arubo seated down on the bed while he quietly looks at a plushie roughly his body size.
"...Good afternoon, Arubo." Gardious greets from the door.
"..." The little Snover turned over to look at him. Gardious walks over and studies the child quietly.
"How is everyone here? The other children?" He inquires.
"..." Arubo looks down quietly.
He's still very quiet as before... Every once in a while, Arubo would look down at his own self. And that is what he's doing now. It wasn't just one child; there are some who have bodily instincts, insecurities...
He looked at the body scale nearby that displayed his weight, seemed like he just weighed himself just recently. He studied the kilograms displayed on the screen. '56.8 kg.', it read. Above a Snover's average weight of 50.5 kg...
Arubo looked away, ashamed of that weight. This must be why he was training so hard. His arms and body were more muscular than an average Snover but his belly still remained bloated. When he gave it some average pats, he shook as he watched the skin of his flabby flesh ripple briefly right from where he hit.
Like the rest, he didn't know why but this still pained him.
Gardious rested himself onto the side of the bed lightly. "...Hmm... You've grown so much since you came here." He comments.
"..." Arubo turned upwards to look at Gardious. What did he mean? Grown so much? Gardious looks over at the plushie that resembled an Alolan Vulpix and picks it up, placing it by Arubo's side. "You used to distance yourself well even from the other children." Gardious tells him. "But now... You can softly mumble to them."
"..." Arubo mumbles quietly. He held the plushie close. The time he was able to feel happy on the day of his birth. That memory... On the snowy streets of Veilstone City... He didn't know he would have something to enjoy that day. What it meant to laugh and smile. To have a family.
That moment... where he could smile with warmth, even if no mouth was seen...
Arubo mumbled softly again while caressing the plushie carefully... With care and love. Something about how this large Snover can do. Gardious smiled softly at the sight of the child. He looked at the doors just as Pentaster entered. From the motions of panic, Gardious could tell bad news is imminent.
"His Dynacrystal's going haywire." Pentaster declared. "I need someone to absorb the excess energy, quick!"
Gardious quickly nods and he follows Pentaster right over to where Iggy stayed. "Emberkin!" They looked at the Chimchar grabbing the sides of his chest, spasming in pain as the red crystal that emerged from his cream skin produces a brilliant flash of vermillion.
"Commander!" Pentaster exclaimed, chanting a spell to begin the ritual. Gardious nodded and made himself the conduit for Iggy's Dynacrystal to go to Gardious' own. He breathed as he allowed his own crystal to emerge from his breast, looking at Iggy struggling with the pain from his crystal.
"Hold still..." Pentaster commanded as he transferred the energy into Gardious' own. Iggy grunted as he felt the tearing force within him begin to lessen, his heartbeats slowing down from its paced rate from the crystal's effects on him.
Gardious looked silently as he felt the excess energy draw into his Dynacrystal. The two adults watched that as the energy left Iggy's crystal, the spreading it did and brilliance ceased and it began to shrink back to its point of appearance. Iggy's face begins to relax and his breath steadies.
"...Iggy?" Pentaster called out with concern, dropping every formalities he had. Iggy breathed out tiredly and he opened his eyes to look at Pentaster. He looked at the surrounding flesh around his Dynacrystal.
"...P-Professor...?" Iggy asks. "It... hurts... a lot... My crystal... made me hurt a lot..."
Pentaster embraced him while something wet hit Iggy. It wasn't water, it didn't hurt him at all. "Iggy..." Pentaster gasped. "I thought we lost you. Never do it every again or else I'll ground you by not using that dummy for a week. No, a month!"
"..." Iggy looked up quietly at the... sobbing starfish. He looked over at Gardious, the one who kept his excess energy at bay, stored within his own red crystal. The young child breathes in and held Pentaster as much as he could reach while thanking their 'Grandpa Bird.'...
Gardious looked down at him. A grandpa, huh? He wondered about being one rather than a soldier. All his life... he had always been fighting on the front lines and aging well while time took it's course on him. One day, he will surrender to elderly age, but at least before then, he could care for the younger and newer generation...
There will be the time where he'll put his knives down, but before that happens... He turned to Iggy.
"...Iggy. Don't cause any heartaches for the Professor. We're here to help you."
"Sorry to worry you and Professor," Iggy apologized as he imagined a mini him and Pentaster with the latter scolding him.
"...It's alright." Gardious assures. "We couldn't stay cross at you forever."
"Do what I do best," Iggy wondered. "He told me that."
"You're still young compared to everyone else here. You still have a life ahead of you."
"Right." Iggy nodded. "I am going to get Luigi back."
Gardious smiled. " We will get Duonter back here." He nods. Iggy nodded then delivered a punch at the Dummy's face. Gardious looked at how it was delivered. Strong, but also quick. If the dummy wasn't rooted down at the base, it would have fallen down afterwards.
"...Commander." Gardious turned to greet Arubo walking over to him. He could see his mouth clearly with the "mustache" gone that he could speak clearly without them.
"Arubo, how are you doing?" Iggy asked.
"Fine." Arubo answers. "Training with everyone else, Frostforge still under recovery..."
He turned over to Gardious. "...Might need Commander's support for a mission."
"You might need me to be part of a mission you're undertaking?" Gardious inquires. Arubo nods in response. The raven pondered for a while, recalling what mission is assigned today for Arubo.
"...Spiral Drill." Gardious opened his eyes. "You'll be handling the dangerous Gamma type."
"Gamma, it's lower than the Beta variant." Iggy mused.
"I wasn't the one who tried to fight a Beta as a child all alone." Iggy shivered from his gaze, knowing how worried sick Pentaster was when Iggy overloaded his Dynacrystal. "If I wasn't there to save you, either, you would have suffered worse when you were returned to bed." Gardious adds.
"Oh." Iggy looked away.
"...Commander, something's strange with the Gamma from the reports." Arubo turned back to Gardious. "I'm not sure on how, but-"
"Owaaaah!" Came Blitz's voice. He was flung over to their direction, pressing onto Arubo from the top of his head and sinking into the squishy flesh before being repulsed back onto the ground. "Oogh... Good... body cushion... Fatty-"
The next few seconds, Blitz was covered entirely in ice and Arubo had a raised hand releasing frosty air. "... Fucking UFO." Arubo snarls loudly.
Iron arrived shortly after, looking at the frozen Blitz. "...I'm sorry about that." he bowed politely while they looked at the right eyesocket.
"It should be at least one more day before your new glass eye will arrive." Gardious states while looking at the eyepatch Iron wore.
"It seems so." Iron rummaged through his hammerspace to find some Aspear Berries. "Again, my brother wanted to check out the Gamma Dulled."
"He does?" Gardious says.
"I did tell him about that Dulled and he wanted to brawl one, I had to talk him down but he wanted to ask Arubo if he can come." Iron added.
"...Why?" Arubo questions.
"So he can come and fight it."
"...This Gamma is strange. That's why I'm asking the Commander personally to see."
Blitz went out of the icy prison he was in.
"I wanna fight a Gamma Spiral Drill!" He announces.
"..." Arubo looked at Blitz quietly, then he turned to Gardious.
"...We can allow Polarize to join. Given that... we keep him at bay." Gardious looks.
"..." Arubo shoots a look at Blitz. "...Fine. But call me that again, and I'll fucking freeze one good part."
"G-Good part?" Blitz stammers.
"..." Iggy remained silent.
"..." Gardious said nothing.
"...Really brutal..." Iron murmurs with a gulp.
"...O...Okay." Blitz nods slowly.
Arubo lowered his arm. "...Good." he says, looking at the greatsword he held right now. It appears to be made of a form of stone, but durable and sharpened for combat usage.
"Zakh and Safka will watch over for me while I get the new glass eye so behave." Iron reminded.
"Okay!" Blitz shouts.
"Okay, we'll handle your brother." Iggy assured Iron while he held his right eye. Gardious nods in agreement. "We'll minimize the situations he will be prone to cause."
"Thank you." Iron bowed and looked at Blitz. "Remember what you are facing against, brother."
"Right, Iron!" Blitz assures. Iron nodded a bit and Gardious knew he didn't want his brother to come. However, there was nothing he could do once his brother set his idiotic mind into something.
"...Alright." Gardious breathes out. "Stay vigilant and keep close to us."
"Woo!" Blitz punches into the air with both arms.
"Remember that." Iggy reminded.
"Do not copy what that group that parodied raids of poor tactics and that particular paladin did." Iron added.
"I won't!" Blitz shouts.
August 19th, 2020
2:45 p.m.
New Mauville
"We've arrived at New Mauville." Gardious held his comm.
"Okay, Commander." Safka called. "How is the baby child?"
"As fine he can be with the icy glare." Iggy replied. Arubo kept his gaze on Blitz while that line was spoken. "So he's fine. For now." Zakh comments.
"With Arubo in check, yes." Iggy agreed.
"Alright. The Gamma Spiral Drill should be located at floor 12th." Zakh reminds.
"Alright..." Iggy took a deep breath. "This isn't like before. It may be weaker but it is still dangerous."
"Okay!" Blitz announces and quickly looks away from Arubo, who turns over to the entrance as did the rest.
"Just assure any inhabiting Pokémon you meet that the situation will be handled." Zakh tells the group. Gardious nods in response. "We will." They went in, they looked at the inhabitants around the place. "Voltorb, Electrode, Magnemite, Magneton and Magnezone..." Arubo studies. The ones present appear to have some concern and worry around their living spaces at the floors below.
Gardious approached a group of Magnemite, all buzzing about in panic. "...We will handle what's living inside there." He tells them. They buzzed with a nod as they left to investigate. While they moved onward, Blitz saw something. It was an abandoned room.
"...Nmm?" He stared at it for a while... This place... it felt... familiar... akin to... a far-off hazy memory... He looked around, he began to hear sounds... sounds only coming in his notice, static, unclear words beyond even common understanding... He went inside.
"Blitz?" Iggy called.
"Don't worry, that area lacks any danger." Safka assured them.
"..." Blitz observed the surroundings of the room. It was strewn with damaged, broken machinery, apparatus... It wasn't like this before, for sure. After all, the plans for this underground settlement was cut short.
...That is the case, right? Blitz looked further at the damage caused... there appears to be drilling done... by something massive. He looked around some more. Some cluttered items and used to have owners. Torn lab coats. "...Huh?" He looked at the lab coats and picked the heavily filthy and damaged article of attire up from the long unclean floors. He always saw these form of coats worn all around most Research Department members back in WINGS, so did this place... also looked into something?
He turned the coats more and he heard something drop onto the floor, looking down and seeing a metallic needle, and several broken shards of... something. Even someone like Blitz could tell that this was a name tag.
"Mmm?" Blitz looked at the broken pieces. He picked up the broken pieces and fumbled around with trying to sort them in order and placement.
...Polarize? Why does it say that surname? Aren't his and Iron's surnames Polarize? He tried to look around some more while the others went in to investigate what this room was. "...It appears to be... likely a research facility." Gardious finds shredded papers, he guessed it to be ripped by force. Most texts are incoherent for viewing. He continued around, pacing to investigate what this room meant for Blitz. "..."He looked at a snapped clipboard with torn papers hanging from the top. Nothing either... There must be some article of reading or viewing material that has survived whatever this room has went through.
...He stepped on some platings. Turquoise platings.
His eyes peered at these pieces of metal... the ends of the platings are torn viciously. He held his comm and pointed it above the platings for confirmation. "Necrome, Stor. Analyze the material here." He requests.
"Sure thing, analyzing!" Safka exclaimed and soon afterwards gasped in shock.
"What is it?" Gardious asks.
"...These... their material belong to Metagrosses." Zakh answers. "And from the appearance of it, their active bodies have been long gone."
"Metagross?"
"Not only that but this is also an old research facility."
"So, it is a research facility..." Gardious nods to himself. "...Is it possible to check through the history of New Mauville? No, rather still... documents hidden from the public eye."
"...You know with that level of security and needing near immediate answers, that means..." Zakh begins.
"Ask Atad to hack into the database."
"...I'll get a copy." Zakh sighs and there are some shuffling sounds.
"..." Safka can be heard grumbling. "...Non-Shiny Metagross couple. Twin children, both are shiny. Transferred from the Galar Branch of Mechanical Engineering Research."
"...Twin children... Shiny..." Gardious glanced over at Blitz from their side... Both were Galarian in blood and from the reports, they found the twins...
"...The Polarize children were found in a recently destroyed facility that experienced the attack of a Spiral Drill."
There is some shuffling and a puffing sound before Zakh's voice is heard. "Atad's hacking the Mauville database files." Many seconds later, he continues. "...And he found a lot of things. Let's see... Here, we have... New Mauville having a Dynacrystal deep within..." Gardious listened to the information hidden behind New Mauville. "...Then that means that since the ore was found... Analysis on the Dynacrystals." He assumes.
"Yeah." Zakh replies. "Their research is... a lot. They discovered the near-omnipotent capabilities the entire ore could provide, they wanted to run tests onto the Dynacrystal."
Blitz was still looking around, lost in thought.
"The head of this researcher is unknown," Safka read. "However, what we suspected was that among the researchers, it included Silgmuind and Kalinta Polarize. Both are Metagross researchers of the department and are married."
"So their names... we can only assume, but mostly confirm, that they are..." Gardious states.
"Iron and Blitz's parents? Closest and likely hypothesis."
"...Read on." Gardious continues. Zakh breathes soundly and the duo continued down the files.
"...Date, July 2..." Safka read. "On that day, the Polarize family took their twin sons to see their workplace. Nothing bad happened on that day and they let them stay with the other children on a tour. That was when the elder twin spotted...someone."
Gardious held his comm while he silently listens.
"The elder twin didn't know who that was, nor were their features stated." Zakh continues. "But when time passed with the figure's appearance, an unidentified monster with a massive drill on its' face, eyeless and more of a subterranean creature, attacked the facility."
Gardious looked at Blitz overlooking a large hole. He was shaking.
"The unknown creature slew about most living things that was near its vicinity... The deaths on the day was uncountable, they could only deduct the count by two." Zakh states. "...They're the Polarize twins." Blitz breathed rapidly while he continues to stare at the hollow space through the hole, it didn't come unnoticed.
"The older Polarize twin, he would have died if the team didn't arrive from the pain and shock."
"...He had a crystal shard in his eye..." Gardious speaks.
"He was a child." Safka gasped. "The shock would had killed him."
"But he didn't." Zakh reminds.
Blitz looked down the hole.
"Right now, it is sealed within that floor." Safka looked at the coordinates.
"At least it'll stay down there, but we actually wouldn't know it's current conditions, to be frank." Zakh informs. Blitz's claws tightened. There was another reason why he wanted to be here. It was because... because... He could hear the voice of Iron, when they were younger, wailing in agony. Intense agony with the shard of the Dynacrystal in his eye.
He remembered that Iron couldn't see; he couldn't even tell his younger twin was in front of him even with their voices... And all because... of that incident. Blitz felt his forehead area from his body, where his crystal stabbed into and embedded itself inside there.
It hurt, but it wasn't anything compared to being one-eye blind for an entire childhood... as a one-eyed being. His hopes and aspirations dashed to pieces... Not being to attend school and learn yet because of his gifted intellect and through audio books, he managed to get high grades at the cost of his physical strength. Blitz himself never had the head for thinking, he had the physical strength to carry things and beat things up around, but he could never understand questions at all. His brother, Iron... He never got to have a childhood from that day onwards... because of... that...!
He turned to Gardious. "...Commander..." Blitz begins.
Gardious turned to meet the Shiny Metang with them. "Blitz?" Iggy wondered, sensing anger from him, not the typical idiotic energy he felt.
"...What is inside... there?" Blitz asks.
"..." Gardious frowns at the question. The reports they recovered recorded well of the details before the sealing of it. "...A Delta Spiral Drill."
Blitz's claws shook then looked resolute. He wanted to close things off. The echoes ring in his hearing. Static, Iron's anguished crying combined with his own. Gardious continues to look at Blitz staring at the hole. "...Emberkin, Nifil. Can you handle the Gamma Spiral Drill at B12?"
"Alright then .. I won't do it alone this time with Arubo with me." Iggy assured.
"...Commander, do what you will do." Arubo mutters. Gardious nods and the two headed out of the facility room to continue their journey down to the lower floors. He turned his attention back to Blitz and the hole. "Necrome, Stor. What ways are there to dispel or rid of the seal?" Gardious asks.
"What?" Zakh questions.
"Just what I asked."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
It was a few moments of silence before a beep was heard. It seemed something was removed. "Seals are ready to be released." Safka announced. "Released when you're ready."
Blitz clenched his claws tightly. "...We're ready." Gardious spread his wings. He flew up and as space was left beneath his taloned feet, a pair of green hilts appeared from the talons. But when he gripped onto said hilts with his talons, wind burst out from the hilt guards, the currents of visible air circulated to the form of a blade from the hilt.
Blitz looked over at the now-shaped wind knives the Commander held by his talons. These were... the Skyrenders wielded by Gardious Galecita... He looked at him. This powerful Commander... He'll see first-hand what the main leader of WINGS is capable of...
"...Alright. Releasing... now!"
Blitz covered his face from the impact of dust hitting them. Gardious stood still, not bothered by the gust of wind.
"..." Gardious maintained his position while he patiently waited... for about five seconds before whirring could be heard. In an instant, he flipped forward with a curve, slamming down onto the spinning drill of the Delta Spiral Drill that emerged from the hole with his knives. The Spiral Drill couldn't hold against the impact and its head lowered down in a near-instant, tearing against the flooring and causing the usual awful screeching of tearing metal. The released Spiral Drill was as it likely was before it was sealed: rampant, murderous energy oozing out, more or less healthy body undeterred by the body's natural needs...
Blitz stared at this Dulled. Then his shock turned into rage.
'I-Iron!'
Blitz saw himself floating over to the Beldum on the ground. Eye pierced and dull, a large chunk of Dynacrystal pierced into it. The sight was frightening to look at, but Iron wasn't able to focus on anything in front...
The Dulled before them... its massive drill from its head grinded horrifyingly as it tore apart... something. Silhouettes. Loud static that could burst his hearing. He was screaming in horror and anguish.
He didn't know why he was screaming; he just couldn't remember.
Blitz looked back at the current scene while he remembered the hazy events around him and Iron back then. Gardious, he was facing this Spiral Drill. His movements were so... controlled. He didn't even falter for the simplest of moments as he flew around the limited space of this facility while striking the Spiral Drill amongst his evasive maneuvers. Blitz held his fists. However, he realized how his attacks were strong but lack in finesse. Seeing Gardious fight...
...it made him... feel... so... worthless here...
He thought of his older brother. The older but weaker brother. He always protected him, the more physically abled brother. He remembered his battle with Latios... He was flailing and thrashing well; it made everyone else's aim harder to hit the Eon without damaging him in the path. He did it because Iron got hurt. It didn't do anything. They were able to defeat the Eon for Swamp's craftiness. If anything, he slowed down their progress. It made him feel... unneeded. Weak. Pathetic.
...He never wanted that... Blitz needed to have worth in his life... He isn't just any stupid UFO who has all brawn and no brains...
But... How...He spotted Gardious slice the Dulled. He spotted a core, the avian turned to him, giving him the chance to attack. "Strike now." Gardious commanded him. He turned back and blew wind... strong wind that kept the Spiral Drill at bay and made the room feel like a contained hurricane that refused to move elsewhere. It was his chance. Blitz realized this chance the Commander gave him. To finish he wasn't able to finish years ago.
"Yaaaaah!" Blitz charged in with a speeding dash. His arms glowed brightly and he releases a flurry of lightspeed punches onto the Delta Spiral Drill's core. He thought of Iron... and the two silhouettes. This punch he stored... He gave out one more loud battle cry with all his feelings let out with only Iron to remember; his failures as a stronger, dumber and younger twin...
The Dulled disappeared into mist. Yet he didn't feel much satisfaction for he still missed something. He turned to the powerful commander."..." Gardious looked over at Blitz while he took another look around the surroundings. After a few more seconds, he closed his eyes and the Skyrenders he wielded faded off away into fading light. He returned his attention to Blitz. "Yes, Polarize?"
He was staring at the mist as it disappeared and back at his own fists. He didn't need just strength... he needed... the head to be able to use said strength...
But, he didn't know. No matter what he did, he was still stupid.
"...How can I... get stronger?" Blitz mumbles to Gardious. The Corviknight looked at him. The most obvious answer, given his state... is to train... and undergo evolution. But it wasn't just that simple. Evolution doesn't instantly change the mentality of the Pokémon beforehand. They will still retain most of their old personality.
He wondered...He was a Beldum and Beldum needed another to gain this Metang body. The Beldum he fused with, it was an artificially-made replica that functioned like a normal Beldum without the conscience and he was able to use that to evolve into this current form. However, an artificial Metang wasn't made yet. They heard footsteps and turned to see Iggy and Arubo return back to the room.
"Phew, that was a fight." Iggy commented. "You didn't lose much even with a different weapon. Goes to show your power comes from your skills, big guy."
"Mhm." Arubo nods with his greatsword placed on his shoulder, resting its face onto him. He brought his Stoneblade in front of him, giving a flick and it disappears into his hammerspace. "Been some time since you had a set of spiked knuckles." He adds.
"It is for some piercing damage I can do."
"It still brought out damage in the end."
Blitz remained silent while Gardious approached him."Polarize." He speaks out. He turned to him. His oxygen modulators released some dirt and he wanted to obtain something. He needed to know, this experienced avian can help him guide him. "...The right and most optimal time for you... is not only strength, but the trust you can hold onto the one who will be your partner with your life... and in turn, they entrust theirs to you."
Trust...He still had a long way to go.
August 19th, 2020
6:00 p.m
WINGS HQ
Gardious made his way back to his office. Another job done, no casualties for today. He looked around, several members greeted him as they made their day. Just was when he noticed Scorch pass him with a wave of her own.
"Good afternoon, Commander!"
"Afternoon, Bacon." Gardious greeted back with a turn.
"No assignments today so I will just play that game Lenna recommended to me." Scorch told him.
"Hm..." Gardious nodded.
"Well, see you!" Scorch left, while it was hard to notice but she sounded a bit weird. Gardious pondered about that and then continued to his office. Once inside, he looked around the area. It seemed untouched but he looked over to the files. The shelves of the E.
"..." He flicked his wing through the documents with every hovering in front of the file covers... Ellsworth Family. He took the file and looked at it, soon drawing it out of the shelf and reading its contents. Ellsworth Family were among the allied families that supported WINGS. One of the richest families of Galar that helped to fund WINGS's monetary issues and maintain its connections in Galar. Their status now...
Gardious stopped at a page and read it observantly. The two heads of the Ellsworth family were dead, along with a Flygon couple protecting them. The location of the mansion of the Ellsworth family was unknown so was any member. All connections to it was cut off, hidden in the darkness for so long.
Gardious looked at the pictures of the heads of the family. A male Bisharp and a female Cinderace. He wondered, Scorch joined without further question and she never told them her background. However, her tomboyish personality didn't befit on how a noblewoman should act.
He frowned slightly at the file. But her earlier tone for a moment...
He looked the files. They were recently touched. Someone must had entered the room before but he wondered how, the room was securely locked and how was she able to enter?
Gardious approached his desk and inputted several commands in sequence. The digital screen which opened up presented footage of his office. He clicked again. This time, he opened another window to show outside his doors. He silently rewinded time back.
...It took long until someone entered. Hidden in the shadows that he couldn't make out who it was. However, the outfit showed the figure is at least humanoid in appearance... bearing a slender appearance. The figure opened the E section and took out some files and read them. The following feed showed them shaking while they read it. 10 minutes before they returned to base, the figure returned the files, checked everything if they left something, and left the office.
He checked the other feeds. He followed where the figure retreated. However, the figure didn't appear going out of the spot and he saw Scorch going out of Lenna's room, not at the men's changing rooms. The one who went out was a male Machamp, but his bulky body didn't match the figure's slender build.
"..." He stared silently at the feeds' recordings before he stops the feeds... Scorch Bacon... Cinderace, but...was she really of this family?
Chapter 24 Concluded